Disabled young people from Burnley descend on Parliament

They attended a special workshop and reception to speak to politicians and policymakers about the contribution they want to make to the country’s workforce. 

The events, attended by Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Chorley MP and speaker of the House of Commons are part of a wider day of action around the country to showcase the tremendous contribution that young adults with special educational needs and disability (SEND) can make to the workforce, especially through supported internship programmes. 

Supported internships, work-based study programmes for 16 to 24-year-olds with SEND, who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan, are found to dramatically change the employment outcomes for those who take part.

Young people at Houses of Parliament in London (Image: DFN Project SEARCH)

Figures frm DFN Project SEARCH, which provides supported internships for people with learning difficulties and autism spectrum conditions, show that 70 per cent of people who complete their supported internships go on to secure full-time employment, thanks to the skills and confidence they gain through the programme. In stark contrast, official national figures show that less than five per cent of young adults with a learning disability or autism spectrum condition are ordinarily in full-time employment in England. 

DFN Project SEARCH hopes that the conversations in Parliament will help raise awareness of the huge impact that supported internships can have not only on the lives of the interns who take part but, on the employers, and wider society too.

Jack Lamb with his mum as young people advocated for increased employment opportunities for disabled and autistic (Image: DFN Project SEARCH)

It hopes to challenge the misconceptions that all-too-often unfairly shape the lives of young adults with a learning disability and/or autism across the UK and encourage employers to recognise the social and economic value of employing young adults with SEND and take active steps to improve inclusivity and diversity in the workforce. 

Kaitlin, who is an intern with Calico Group Burnley and is part of the DFN Project SEARCH Youth Advisory Group visited Parliament to speak about supported internships.

She said: “I am incredibly excited to go and visit Parliament. I got to meet my local MP earlier and find out more about what it means to be a member of Parliament – now I want to see the place where they work. I take my role on the Youth Advisory Group seriously because I want to be a good advocate for my peers and tell the world about what great employees people with learning disabilities can make. It is my first time travelling to London, so it is a really special and important day.”

Sir Linday Hoyle (bottom right) and young people with disabilities and/or autism advocated for increased employment opportunities in Houses of Parliament (Image: DFN Project SEARCH)

The activity in Parliament is part of national supported internship day (NSID) (March 27) which will see over 100 supported internship programs across the country and thousands of young people with SEND taking part in a national day of action.

Launched last year by the charity DFN Project SEARCH, the day of activity is a joint initiative with partners of the Government-backed Internships Work consortium, the British Association for Supported Employment and the National Development Team for Inclusion. It aims to showcase and celebrate the tremendous contribution that young adults with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) can make to the workforce. 

Claire Cookson, chief executive of DFN Project SEARCH, said: “We created national supported internships day to celebrate the amazing contribution of every young person, every employer and every partner that makes supported internships such a success across the country.

“We are thrilled to be able to come together again this year and launch a whole range of celebration and campaigning activities. From site competitions and coffee mornings to Parliamentary action and social media activity, there is something everyone can get involved in today.

“However you choose to take part, know that you are building a fairer and more equitable future for young adults with a learning disability or autism spectrum condition.”

Kieran Watt, internships work’s programme manager, at the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) said: “NDTi is delighted to be able to support the second national supported internship day. As part of our ongoing commitment to ensure young people with additional needs gain meaningful employment. We know how valuable supported internships can be as part of the pathway towards work and have seen first-hand the difference getting a job makes to young people, their families, employers, and their colleagues to have such talent onboard. 

“Our work through the Internships Work programme has shown us the willingness of stakeholders to get involved to grow this opportunity across England and to double the number of supported internships by March 2025, but we mustn’t stop there. Long-term funding and commitment is needed to ensure young people not only get into work but can stay in work and have the opportunity to further their career dreams moving forward.”

Laura Davis, chief executive of the British Association for Supported Employment said: “BASE is incredibly proud to be part of the Department for Education funded Internships Work program and today is an opportunity to celebrate the amazing work happening across the country to support young adults into good careers.

"BASE is training 760 job coaches to ensure that young people are not only supported into jobs but also have access to the support needed to flourish in their careers. At a time of challenge for the whole country, it is wonderful to be a small part of such a good news story, but it isn’t over yet and I want to encourage every local area and every employer to consider providing opportunities for these amazing, highly motivated young people, who want to be part of the UK’s skills shortage challenge.”

As part of the Day’s activities, DFN Project SEARCH is launching a nationwide People’s Choice competition for programmes that provide Supported Internships and are inviting everyone to take part in a range of activities. From hosting events to posting online to recruiting workplace Employer Champions – there is an activity for everyone available through the DFN Project SEARCH NSID2024 website.